Lentil Sausage Soup is a wonderfully healthy dinner idea. This red lentil soup is made in a crockpot or your instant pot. Easy and delicious. My family adores high-fiber, low-fat, dairy-free, gluten-free Lentil Sausage soup.
Lentil Sausage Soup
I’m really impressed with kale. Kale is perfect for this soup. It’s an amazing vegetable, nourishing in juices, easy to grow and stays fresh in your garden most of the year.
Follow the links to learn more about our garden and more about the benefits of growing and eating kale.
Kale is a very good addition to this sausage lentil soup. So are the tomatoes and beans. All the flavors and textures of this crockpot lentil soup with sausage work together beautifully.
I always encourage you to be versatile and flexible when making soup for your family. This homemade soup is a wonderful recipe as it is. Watch your substitutions so you get the best results.
Various Garden kales in our garden
I usually won’t use greens in a soup because I hate to eat the slimy green bits they make when cooked. Kale is an exception.
PLEASE do not use a less strong green such as spinach or chard leaves in this soup. They will break down into slimy bits
All of the varieties of kale hold up well in soups and stews. That’s true even with all the hours in a crock pot. Kale adds color and great texture to this soup. If you’ve never actually used kale in a soup this is a good recipe to start with.
Lentil Sausage soup is so simple to make. Good, Nourishing soup your whole family will enjoy!
Look at those chunks of carrots in the picture above. Garden carrots are fun to grow and make a wonderful addition to this soup. Dave planted rainbow carrots and purple green beans last year. How fun is that?! Beautiful colors and lots of healthy nutrients here.
Lentil soup with sausage and kale is a good base for a variety of vegetables. both fresh and canned. I have made this soup so many ways over the years.
This is an easy dinner idea because it’s very easy to make your own. Use what you have and play around with this recipe. Homemade soup is not hard and fast.
What does your family like in this soup? Let us know in the comment section below.
Lentil Sausage Soup Recipe Notes:
UPDATE: Nowadays I use my instant potfor my crock pot recipes. I just set it to slow cook on MORE for however many hours the recipe requires.
It’s Easy to use and no need for another slow cooking appliance. So I’m giving instructions for both the slow cooker and instant pot here.
NOTE: My daughter Amanda LOVES her Crock Pot with browning insert.
I replaced my crock pot with a pressure cooker. USE Whatever suits you best. This recipe will work in either one fine. Just follow the instructions.
The Lentils:
The different varieties of dried lentils will all work just fine in this crockpot lentil soup. So if you are out of red lentils feel free to substitute any lentils in your pantry.
The sausage:
The sausage I use in this soup is spicy, low-fat, pre-cooked chicken sausage. We love the flavor chicken sausage adds to this soup. Chicken Sausage is a great compliment to lentils and keeps the recipe much lower in fat too.
The Add ins:
Feel free to use chicken broth or vegetable broth in place of the water.
Use any vegetables you have that will go with your crockpot lentil sausage soup. The chicken sausage and broth ingredients are pretty flexible flavor partners.
I make this soup differently throughout the year. I tend to put whatever is currently coming in from the garden in the soup pot.
But when the garden is not producing I head to the canned goods in my pantry or look at what needs using up in the produce bin in my fridge.
Lentil Sausage Soup is so easy to make in your crock pot or instant pot.
Lentil sausage soup is so easy to make! It goes from first thought to the crock pot in fifteen minutes. And it’s versatile. Consider this a good clean out the fridge dinner.
About the liquids:
When I make any soup, the liquids are NOT exact measurements. Feel free to adjust the liquids to make this soup perfect for your family. When I open a can of ingredients to make soup, canned beans or tomatoes, for example. I NEVER drain the liquids out of the cans.
My mom taught me as a girl, and her mom taught her, all that liquid in those cans is to be used. Draining the beans and other canned foods robs us of flavor and nutrients. The cooks in my family actually pour water into the cans and rinse the cans into the soup! We want every last drop of goodness
Always buy organic canned goods so you are only putting good food in your soup. We love to use every drop!
In the case of tomatoes that may mean using glass jars instead of cans. The acidity of the tomatoes can cause the metal in the canned tomatoes to come off in your soup.
I call for canned Italian stewed tomatoes in the recipe (for your convenience) but I most often use our fresh garden tomatoes or my home frozen whole tomatoes with an extra dash of Italian seasonings to bring out the flavors.
Lentil Sausage Soup
If you make this recipe PLEASE comment for us and rate the recipe. We would love to hear how it goes for you!
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Lentil Sausage Soup
YOUR PRINTABLE LENTIL SAUSAGE SOUP RECIPE:
LENTIL SAUSAGE SOUP
Lentil Sausage Soup is a wonderfully healthy dinner made in a crock pot or instant pot. It's high-fiber, low-fat, dairy-free, gluten-free. This recipe makes dinner so easy. This healthy soup is nourishing, versatile and just takes 10 minutes to put together!
Ingredients
- one 12 0z. package spicy, or any variety you prefer pre cooked natural chicken sausage sliced into 1/2 inch rounds
- 1 Cup lentils any color
- 2 to 3 large carrots-sliced into 1/4 inch rounds
- 4 garlic cloves-minced
- 2 celery ribs sliced small
- One fresh pepper, any heat or type you prefer, chopped small
- several leaves of kale, any variety, torn or cut into small pieces
- 1-14 oz. can garbanzo beans with juice
- 1-14 oz. can kidney beans with juice
- 1-14 oz. can Italian stewed tomatoes with juice
- 1-14 oz. can tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce
- water to desired consistency
Instructions
- Put all prepared ingredients into the crock pot or your instant pot.
- NOTE: All of the canned goods go into the pot UNDRAINED, and then fill each can with water and pour them into the pot as well. Adjust liquids as you prefer.
- Set the slow cooker on high for 4 hours or low 6 to 8 hours. If Using an instant Pot set the slow cook function to MORE for 6 hours OR use the soup function and have dinner to the table in under an hour!.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
10Serving Size:
2 CupsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 216 Total Fat: 3g Saturated Fat: 0g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 7mg Sodium: 673mg Carbohydrates: 39g Fiber: 8g Sugar: 16g Protein: 11g
Looking for more RECIPES? Soup recipes, Instant Pot recipes, Crock Pot Recipes
Jeff
If you go the Instant Pot route, how LONG would you set it for on the Soup function? I have a potato lentil soup I like that only requires 3 minutes (of course it takes longer to build the pressure). How long do you recommend for this soup? Sounds tasty, and I look forward to trying it!
Diane
Hi Jeff,
This soup will take a bit longer due to the harder veggies in it. Carrots need about 5 minutes. The soup function is pretty flexible. Try five minutes and natural release is at least 10 minutes. Please Let me know how it turns out. This is one of our favorite soups. Enjoy and have a great day!
Victoria
What would the cook time be to cook this on the stovetop? I’m thinking 1-2 hours would suffice but don’t want to ruin my first time trying this!
homemadefoodjunkie
I agree Victoria. That time frame is about right. If you’re using precooked sausage all you’re actually cooking is the lentils. They only need to boil and then simmer about a half hour. BUT, using the stovetop may use more liquid than a slow cooker so keep your eye on that. Just add more broth or water if the lentils absorb too much. Also the seasonings are best added at the end if stovetopping. Enjoy!
Victoria
I cooked this meal tonight and it was a huge hit! I actually just tossed everything into a stock pot, let it come to a boil, then simmered for an hour. It was perfect! Even my picky eater ate til she was full. 😉
homemadefoodjunkie
Victoria I’m so Happy to hear that! This recipe is a family favorite. You just made my day 🙂 Thank you so much for taking the time to comment! Enjoy!
Chelsey
Did you cook your sausage first?
homemadefoodjunkie
Hi Chelsey, I use precooked, ready to eat sausage in this recipe. I will edit the recipe so it’s more clear on this point. Thanks so much for your question. If you find Adele’s Brand Spicy chicken sausage(that’s what I used) it should say that its precooked and ready to eat. But any precooked sausage you love will work. If you choose to use a bulk sausage that is uncooked in this soup I recommend cooking it in a skillet before adding it to the crock pot. It will cook fine in the crock pot if you break it up into small pieces and add it raw. However, I prefer the texture and flavor of precooked sausage in this soup.
Naomi
Just wondering if you’ve ever frozen it? Thinking about making double for dinette another night…
homemadefoodjunkie
Naomi, I have never frozen Lentil sausage soup. The leftovers are so good they just go! I don’t think it would be a problem though. I have frozen other soups with these ingredients and I think it will work fine. Let me know your results if you give it a try!
Karilyn
Anyway to make this with a veg sausage? Any way to reduce the tomato content? My son doesn’t love tomato but he would love everything else!!
homemadefoodjunkie
Absolutely Karilyn! I make this in all kinds of variations. If you want to try vegetarian sausage here is a link to a review on two possible sausages that may do well in this soup. http://www.megabeth.net/2009/02/sausagepalooza-a-vegetarian-sausage-review/. I suggest you get a smoky flavored sausage that will hold up in the soup, or it will look like hamburger when it’s done.
The tomato sauce can be replaced with a roasted red peppers sauce if you prefer. Use some vegetable broth to bring the liquids up to your preference. Spice it up to taste. If you want to use fresh roasted peppers We love the flavor they bring into a recipe! Let me know how your vegetarian version turns out!
Sandi
Beautiful soup…perfect for a cool fall evening.
Rebecca B.
I love using my slow cooker!! Thank you for another amazing and healthy mea to try in it!!
homemadefoodjunkie
Awe, Thank you Becky. I know you’ll love this one. It’s a family favorite
rosemary
Always looking for new soup ideas, especially since fall is just around the corner. thanks.
homemadefoodjunkie
Thank you Rosemary. Enjoy!
Justine @ Full Belly Sisters
I love this hearty, beautiful soup!
homemadefoodjunkie
Thank you Justine!
Jennifer
A hearty comforting soup just in time for fall. I love soup season will have to put this one on the menu.
Katerina
We love eating lentil soup here and your addition of sausage makes it even more tasty!
Kristen
This looks awesome. I am gonna make a huge batch!
homemadefoodjunkie
It’s a family favorite! enjoy
Janette@CulinaryGinger
This is a hearty and delicious soup, perfect for the cooler weather
Anne Murphy
I love sausage in bean soup – and you’re right, kale, especially curly kale, would stand up to a slow cooker! I have to remember this.
homemadefoodjunkie
This is excellent soup and the kale is a nice addition Anne
Byron Thomas
This is perfect, Diane. I love the combination of lentils and sausage. I love the addition of the kale.
homemadefoodjunkie
Byron, I hope you try them together. I think you will love this recipe!
TraditionallyModernFood
Protein rich soup looks wrm and welcoming
homemadefoodjunkie
This is perfect fall comfort food!
Sandi
You hit all of my criteria for a perfect meal. Fast, crock pot, healthy, and use veggies that are in the refrigerator. This looks awesome!
homemadefoodjunkie
I think you will love this recipe Sandi!
DC80
thank you, plan on trying it out this week!
DC80
This looks great! Questions though- Beans are drained and rinsed? And adding in uncooked lentils right? If so, the liquid from the tomato sauce and stewed tomatoes is enough to cook the 1 cup of lentils?
Thank you!
Kayti Lavergne
Hello! Thank you so much for you interest in the recipe! You do not want to drain the beans. The liquid from the canned beans helps builds the sauce base.
Thank you so much!
Homemade Food Junkie
Ronda
Thank you for stopping in and linking up with us this week on #TheWeekendSocial. We love your ideas and hope to see you again this weekend on KitchenDreaming.com. We have pinne &, stumbled.
homemadefoodjunkie
Thank you Rhonda. I will be there!
KC the Kitchen Chopper
I have some red lentils with this soup name on them. Just gorgeous. The healthful colors say it all!
Katerina
We make lentil soup here as well and with tomato too! I haven’t thought of adding sausage. This is an excellent idea!
homemadefoodjunkie
You’ll love it with low fat chicken sausage Katerina. Thanks so much for the visit!